The past few days the phones have been ringing off the hook with ONE THOUGHT in mind:

“Tell me more about the insulating value of Cellular Window Shades”.

Blinds are certainly a value where there is nothing covering your windows and skylights <– what one customer called the “black hole” effect. But how does Cellular, specifically, measure up against other window types, mini blinds or window quilts, for instance.

Let’s start with proven savings on cooling AND heating costs:

Upwards of 25% of your costs can be lost through indoor air leaking back outside through your windows and skylights. If you pay $1300, you could be wasting up to $325 annually in heating/cooling! Dare I say it: That amount could buy youTHREE 36-inch x 60-inch (width x height) Cellular Shades and still put change in your pocket — thanks to FREE shipping.

By providing window and skylight glass with a Cellular Shade covering, Energy Smart Cellular Shades control drafts – you feel the continuity in temperature. You hear the heating and cooling systems turn on lessoften.

Symphony Shades, Light Filtering or Black Out fabrics, insulate in 3 ways, as they fight:

convection

conduction

radiation

See our R-Value chart at the end of this post. But first, to answer the question of how Energy Efficient Cellular Shades stack up against other window treatments, check out the insulation “rating” of these popular window coverings, in conjunction with a Double Pane Window:

1-inch mini blinds have an R-Value of 2.3

Vertical blinds have an R-Value of 2.3

CrystalPleat™ Facets, an R-Value of 3.3

Applause™ or Duette™ Classic, an R-Value of 3.5

Window Quilts, an R-Value of 3.6

(R-Value measures the thermal resistance –> the HIGHER the number, the more effective the insulating)

NOW compare these insulating values with the R-Values for the various Cellular Window Shades fabrics, without and with ComforTrack sidetracks:

My title may be a bit fanciful, but what is an about-to-be Groom to do when guests are imminent and the house’s prominent SKYLIGHT shades look a bit worse for wear:

He calls CellularWindowShades.com and asks, “You’ve got an order for me – can I get that a few days sooner? I’m getting married next weekend.”

When I first spoke to Dan from Maine, it was late in the day, Production was gone (they begin their day while I’m still asleep!) and I could make no promises without discussing it first with the production manager. “I’ll see what I can do,” and promised to get back to him.

Barring the unforeseen (fabric or rail shortage, for instance) Production was able to say Yes to expediting Dan’s order. While every order and the circumstances surrounding its production will differ, we always do our best to accommodate requests. We do it willingly, and without additional cost to the consumer. UPS also offers faster than “ground” shipping (we charge just what UPS charges; never adding any surcharge), but Maine is one UPS-business day from us, so Dan didn’t even need to think about shipment.

Production team member Kate took Dan’s order and ran with it. It was ready for shipment the following Monday and in Dan’s hands the day before his requested date. Behind the scenes, a parts shortage did occur over (of all things) a special type of screw used to mount the side retainer tracks. But as you already know that Dan got his shades, I won’t say more about the nail-biting that went on here.

So there was joy around the offices of CellularWindowShades.com when Dan sent an email today – complete with photos! Here’s the end result, the “After” to go with his “Before” —